Cancer now North Carolina's top killer

Cancer now kills more North Carolinians than heart disease according to statistics released Tuesday by the N.C. Division of Public Health.

In 2009, cancer claimed the lives of 17,476 people. Heart disease was responsible for 17,133 deaths.

"Cancer and heart disease have consistently ranked highest in their toll on the people of North Carolina," State Health Director Jeff Engel explained in a statement. "For the most part, these are preventable diseases, so we must continue to educate our citizens about lifestyle changes they can make to stay healthier."

The most deadly cancers were lung and throat cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. More men than woman died of cancer and heart disease remains the top killer among women.